writing through chaos

Royal Australian Navy personnel raise awareness for psychological injury of young veterans

Homes for Heroes (Australia)

Today I’m mega proud of these guys:

Source: Homes for Heroes

They may be miles away… (literally) but I still fully support their venture, and I’m very proud of them all. Lieutenant Jason Dawson, of the Royal Australian Navy, completed the Sydney Half Marathon wearing a Bomb suit (weighing 45kg!) And news in from my cousin (the tall one)… LEUT Dawson only stopped once, the finish line! That’s incredible… I couldn’t even run the marathon, yet alone do it in a bomb suit!.

All joking aside though, I am very proud of these five chaps… for many reasons! Here’s what Homes for Heroes said before the half-marathon:

“As a leader of the Royal Australian Navy’s elite Clearance Diving unit, Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Officer, Lieutenant Jason Dawson is used to punishing his body and pushing it to extremes. But even he admits he will be in the hurt locker when he runs the gruelling 21km Sydney Half Marathon in a 45Kg Bomb suit on Sunday, 20 September 2015. Lieutenant Dawson and his team are raising money for Homes for Heroes, ‘I have witnessed firsthand returned veterans with physical and psychological injuries as a result of their service. For this reason I feel compelled to do something, to raise money for and awareness of young veterans in need.’ Thank you Lieutenant Dawson, Able Seaman Luke Elliott, Able Seaman Jackson Sharpe, Able Seaman Matthew Brooke and Sub Lieutenant Benjamin Morgan.”

Homes for Heroes

The guys raised money for a great cause, raising money for young veterans in need – including those with physical and psychological injuries as a result of service. Of course, I am British – I do live on the other side of a very big pond, but physical and, in particular, ill mental health, such as PTSD, depression and more, can affect service men and women worldwide.

Homes for Heroes provides accommodation and rehabilitation to ex-servicemen. It works to help young or modern veterans facing homelessness, injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

I’ve always been incredibly proud of my cousin, Sub Lieutenant Benjamin Morgan, but this time Ben’s raised awareness for something that is very close to my heart – ten points to you Ben. And a very big well done to the entire team for completing such an awesome challenge – Lieutenant Dawson… very very well done!